Square gilded stone tower topped by a mechanism comprising 3 moving arms. Complete restoration in 2022. The long-distance aerial communication system invented by Chappe operated from 1794 to 1854. The telegraph network consists of 5,000 km of lines.
The Chappe Telegraph (fully restored in 2022) is a 4-metre square, 6-metre high golden stone building, topped by a mechanism consisting of 3 moving arms used to form and transmit coded aerial signals. This tower, the 55th station out of 58 on the Paris-Lyon line, was commissioned in 1805 and extended as far as Venice. This formidable means of communication, invented by Claude Chappe in 1793, ceased to operate in 1854. The French telegraph network was 5,000 km long, with 535 stations serving 29 towns.
Interpretation and information panels outside explain how the tower and the telegraph network worked.
Spoken languages
Opening hours
From 04/05 to 28/09/2025, 1st Sunday of the month on Sunday between 3 pm and 6 pm.
Video presentation at 3pm-4pm-5pm + commentary with demonstrations.
For group visits: open all year round, prior booking required by e-mail: cotetour,cotetour.fr,
